Shillong, June 23: The body retrieved from an illegal coal mine in East Jaintia Hills is yet to be identified and no one has come forward to claim the body, so far. The body was retrieved by rescue operation team on June 16.
Speaking to reporters on Wednesday, Home Minister Lahkmen Rymbui said the body is kept at the Khliehriat civil hospital and till date no one has come forward for identification and claiming the body.
According to him, the district administration will inform the state government on what needs to be done regarding the disposal of the body only after exploring all possibilities.
He also informed that the state government will take a decision at an appropriate time on the need to call off the ongoing rescue operation for the miners trapped inside an illegal coal mine in East Jaintia Hills district.
“Decision will be taken at an appropriate but not now as our main purpose is how to recover the bodies which still remain in the coal pit,” he said.
He said all necessary steps are being taken by the rescue teams to recover the bodies of the trapped miners.
“The operation is still on. As and when the water level comes down and it is feasible for the rescue teams including the Navy, NDRF and SDRF, necessary steps are taken to recover the bodies,” he said.
At least five miners got trapped inside an illegal coal mine in Sutnga Elaka after a tragic accident that took place on the night of May 30. So far, police have arrested the owner of the coal mine, Shining Langstang, and charged him for violation of the NGT order banning unscientific mining and transportation of coal.
Currently, over 50 personnel from National Disaster Response Force (NDFR), State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), District Disaster Response Force (DDRF), Fire and Emergency Service and the police have been deployed at the site, and the Naval divers trained to dive to such depths are carrying out the critical task of searching and retrieving the trapped miners.
Since the start of the operation on June 12, the team has been able to retrieve only one body.
